Queen for the day!

Day 5 Puente la Reina to Estella

Miles today: 14.8

Total miles: 76.1

Elevation gain: 1331’

Descent: 906’

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating: there really is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.   John Ruskin

Our hiking Day began not long after sunrise as we walked the short distance across the village of Puente la Reina (pop 2500) to see the famous “Queen’s Bridge” in the early morning light.

Here is a short bit about this famous bridge that has been standing for almost 1000 years:

“This bridge over the river Arga was built in the 11th century, seemingly at the initiative of a queen, who could well have been Doña Mayor de Castilla, the wife of Sancho el Mayor, or perhaps Lady Stephanie, the wife of García Nájera. The aim of its construction was to make it easier for pilgrims on the Road to Santiago to leave the town after going along the Rúa Mayor (main street).

It is one of the most majestic examples of civil Romanesque architecture on the Pilgrim's Way. Its most notable features are its elegance and sobriety. It has seven semi-circular arches, the most easterly of which is underground, and is 110 metres long. Between the arches are some smaller arched openings that serve as vent holes, which lighten the structure and allow the water to run through when the river rises.”

This was a relatively easy walking day with just three short but steep uphill segments, the rest being gradual downhill or level terrain. Very little mud and mostly non-paved paths added to the delight of the day as did the stellar weather. Our first full hiking day with no precipitation and lots of sunshine and high temperatures in the 50’s. One section of the Way was along old Roman roadways. We passed through several small villages with narrow streets paved in stone and old stone buildings with wonderful architecture. Below you will see a photo of a church from the 900’s as well as photos from other highlights of the day.